Industry

On the first day of Iberseries & Platino Industria 2024, the panel titled "RTVE: Coproducing with Latin America" brought together key industry figures to discuss the growing role of RTVE (Televisión Española) in international co-productions with Latin America. Held at Matadero Madrid, the panel featured José Pastor, Director of Cinema and Fiction at RTVE, and Gervasio Iglesias, Deputy Director of Cinema, who both provided valuable insights into RTVE’s evolving strategy in the realm of co-productions.

José Pastor emphasized RTVE’s commitment to expanding its presence beyond national borders, particularly through collaborations with Latin American filmmakers. Since 2022, RTVE has participated in 19 co-productions between Spain and Latin American countries, reflecting the public broadcaster’s goal of fostering cross-border cultural projects. Pastor explained some of the key requirements for RTVE’s involvement in co-productions, including the necessity for films to be submitted by a Spanish producer. Additionally, while RTVE is flexible regarding minimum participation percentages, the projects must obtain a Spanish nationality certificate.

RTVE has proven to be an essential player in these co-productions, focusing on high cultural value and supporting even minority productions that show significant promise. Between 2022 and 2024, RTVE evaluated approximately 400 film submissions annually, selecting 62 projects for 2024 alone. In total, 217 film titles were acquired over the three-year period, with 19 of them involving Latin American partners.

RTVE’s partnerships with Latin America have spanned various countries, including seven co-productions with Mexico, three with Argentina, and two each with Colombia and Peru. Other collaborations involved Panama, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling and filmmaking talent.

Some of the standout co-productions highlighted during the panel include Joaquín Mazón’s family comedy La Navidad en sus manos, a collaboration between Spanish production companies Nadie es Perfecto and Esto También Pasará, and the Mexican studio BTF. Additionally, Tierra de nadie, directed by Albert Pinto, demonstrated the successful partnership between Esto También Pasará and Mexican company SGD Films.

RTVE’s support extends beyond acquiring broadcasting rights. As José Pastor noted, RTVE accompanies films throughout their journey, providing visibility through festivals such as San Sebastián, Málaga, and offering additional exposure on RTVE’s digital platform, RTVE Play.

The panel also spotlighted a new wave of Latin American filmmakers who are bringing fresh perspectives and innovative narratives to the international stage. Gervasio Iglesias praised the creativity emerging from these collaborations and pointed out that RTVE Play has seen a remarkable increase in viewership, with a 73% growth in the past year, reaching 33 million viewers.

Among the noteworthy films produced during this period are La estrella azul by Javier Macipe, Mariposas negras by David Baute, and Desechable by Carlos Gómez Salamanca, which have all gained significant recognition at international festivals.


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